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GIRARDVILLE — Four blighted properties on West Ogden Street will be boarded up by borough employees to restrict access by trespassers.

The Girardville Borough Council discussed the matter at Thursday’s meeting. Two structures are on the unit block and two on the 100 block. Council President Robert Krick brought the matter up after the code enforcement officer report.

“There have been complaints about people going in and out of the buildings on the abandoned properties. I guess what we should do, and if everyone is in favor of doing it, is get some materials to board those things up so they can’t get in. The question is if we can enter the buildings. The code enforcement officer (William F. Killian III) said he didn’t think we were authorized to enter the building,” Krick said.

Krick said the matter should be discussed with borough solicitor Christopher Riedlinger, who did not attend the meeting.

“We should take it up with the solicitor, but in the meantime maybe we should have a motion to authorize the borough workers to get the materials,” Krick said.

Councilman Daniel Heiser agreed with talking to the solicitor. Krick said it would be allowed to board properties under the building maintenance code, adding it would be necessary to alert anyone who might be inside that the house was being closed. The council approved the purchase of the materials to board up the houses.

In other business, details on duties and qualifications of the borough fire chief, including officially creating the position, will be discussed in a meeting among borough officials, including the mayor, and two representatives each from the Girard Hose Company No. 1 and Rangers Hose Company.

Krick proposed the meeting for 6 p.m. March 21 at the municipal building. Letters will be sent to the fire companies to inform them of the meeting, which will include discussion on creation of an assistant chief position.

A letter from the Schuylkill Firefighters Financial Development Organization requesting funding assistance for the new burn building at the training center near Frackville was tabled for discussion at a future meeting.

“We’re going to have a budget meeting next month; we can discuss it,” Krick said.

The borough council is considering changing its electrical power supplier, currently American Power and Gas LLC. Krick said rates have been obtained from PPL Electric Utilities and will also be discussed at the budget meeting whether to stay with American Power.

Krick said the borough received quotes for the purchase of security cameras at the municipal building, though the price was higher than expected. The search will continue for cameras, especially one to better monitor the county recycling area.

A blight committee meeting will be 6 p.m. Thursday in the municipal building.

In other business, the council:

• Acknowledged a letter from Deer Lake Borough Council that the request for fire police to assist in traffic control for the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Girardville on March 24 was approved

• Approved request from Mayor Joseph Catizone Jr. to hire police officers for one day for security at the March 24 parade. The rate is $20 per hour and would be on as borough police officers to be covered by liability insurance. The cost for the police coverage would be paid through permit fees for solicitation by organizations during parade.

In a related parade topic, Catizone’s request for nonprofit organizations exception for fees was discussed but not approved, mainly because the soliciting ordinance requires permits for all businesses/organizations.

• Approved request from Girardville Community Ambulance Association for use of municipal building 7 to 9 p.m. Monday for an active shooter seminar for emergency personnel.

Contact the writer: jusalis@republicanherald.com; 570-628-6023

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